THE well-oiled machine offense of TNT just conked out Wednesday night.
The Tropang 5G couldn’t convert their shots especially from three-point range, resulting in a 97-92 loss to Converge in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup showdown at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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The defending champion shot a measly 10 percent from 3, hitting only 3-of-28 from the area, including a combined 3-of-23 among import Bol Bol, Jordan Heading, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Rey Nambatac.
For coach Chot Reyes, that’s the game for TNT.
““Unfortunately, we have a team of shooters who cannot shoot,” said Reyes after emerging from a forlorn TNT dugout where he held a meeting with only the playersand minus the staff.
“That’s the problem. If we cannot make shots, then every other team will do what Converge did tonight.”
The loss snapped TNT’s three game win streak and pushed the team down in the standings to 5-3.
If there’s any positive takeaway from the defeat, Reyes pointed out it was the Tropang 5G’s defense against the FiberXers especially against former player Mikee Williams.
The Fil-Am guard, who won two championships with the TNT franchise, was held to 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting from the floor.
“I thought overall, we did a good job defending him,” said Reyes of Williams.
TNT likewise kept Converge from scoring below 100, including 41 in the first half.
But again, it’s the offense where the Tropang 5G struggled the most.
“It was our offense that was the problem,” Reyes stressed. “Like I said, in the end, no matter what you say about the importance of defense, basketball is a game of putting the ball throught the hoop.
"We can’t seem to do that now. So that explains our record.”
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